Automatic machine



V O. E. RlCHARDSON AUTOMATIC MACHINE I Filed June 10. 1 22 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 A i- TTORNEKS v f WENTOR July 6 9 126.

O. E. RICHARDSON AUTOMATIC MACHINE Filed June 10. 922

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VENTOR W BY V a km 2% I ATORNEY O. E. RICHARDSON AUTOMATIC MACHINE Flled June 10 1922 July 6 1926.

July 6 1926a 0. E. RICHARDSON AUTOMATI C MACHINE Filed June 19. 22 a Sheet-She't s July 6, 1926. 1,591,929

0. E. RICHARDSON AUTOMATIC macximn Filed June 10 22 8 Sheets-Sheet '6 .8 4 DRIVE 14 July 6, 1926.

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entree snares earner eeeice.

OSCAR, E. RICHARDSON, OF NAUGATUGK, CONNECTICUT,ASEIGNOR TO THE EISDON MAIFUFAGTUEING GOlliIPANY, F BZ'A'tTG-ATUCK, COihl'HEC-TIGUT, A CGBPGBATION OF CONNECTICUT.

AUTQMAJIC MACHINE.

Applicatien filed June 10, 1822. Serial No. 567,488.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine for manufacturing com plete safety pins, that is to say, a machine iii-after.

In the accompanying eight sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine einhodyi'ng my invention, certain minor parts being omitted for cle erness of illustration as hereinafter appears.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of a part thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the coiling and bending mechanism of the machine of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a detail of the coiling head, Figures 5 and 6 are elevations of a part of the coiling mechanism on a larger scale, and

Figure 7 is a sectional detail of the coiling head and transfer chain, the chain being shown in the position it occupies while the pin blank is being coiled.

Figures 8' and 9 are, respectively, enlarged-- plan and elevation of the transfer mechanism with coiled pin blanks shown therein;

Figure 10 is an elevation of the capping mechanism, and Figure 11 is a detail thereof showing the parts in another position; Fig 1116'12 is' a plan view of a detail thereof;

Figure 13' is an elevation of a cap; Figure 14 is an elevation of the sorter or mechanism that arranges the caps for delivery to the capping mechanism, and Figures, 15 and 16 are sections of the sorting rolls on the lines 15'15- 16"16, respectively, of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is elevation of the mechanisrn that closses the cap, Figures 18 and 19 are details: thereof, and Figure 20 is a sectional elevation of the closer showing its plungers in detail;

Figure 21 is a section of the pin blank with the cap applied thereto, and

Figure 22 is a similar sectional View after the cap has been closed;

Figure 23 shows detail of one of the plunge-rs of the cap closer in perspective;

Figure 24: is a side elevation of the mechanism which adds the guard to the coil of the pin; Figure 25 is a sectional elevation thereof looking in the direction of the arrows 25 2'5 of Figure 24, and Figures 26, 27 and 28 are details thereof;

Figure 29 shows one of the blanks from which the guards are formed. and Figure 30 the stock from which such blanks are punched; Figure 31 is a perspective of the formed guard, and Figure 32 shows the same applied to the pin;

Figure 33 shows the finished pin of the particular machine shown;

Figure is a side elevation of the mechanism for driving the transfer chain and also of the pin opener; Figuresfifi and 36 are rear elevation and plan thereof respectively;

I Figures 37, 38, 39 and at) are details of the 'pin opener showing the method of opening the completed pin. In theniachine shown (Figs. 1 and 2), a

mechanism at A cuts the pin blank from alength of wire, points it and then delivers the pointed blank to mechanism: at B where the coil is formed and the unpointed end is bent to receive the cap. The coiled blank is then grasped by a transfer mechanism C (shown as an endless chain), and conveyed by it to the mechanisms of the successive operating stations D, E, F and G, at which, respectively, the cap is put on, thecap ch'n-ched or closed, the guard is afliXed-to the pincoil, and the pin is opened, all while the pin remains in the transfer C. As shown in the elevational diagram of Figure 2', the

transfer mechanism is preferably a chain. running over pulleys 1, 2', 3, 4E, and 5 that are mounted on a table top 6 around which the chain runs in a vertical plane and upon which table are mounted the mechanisms of the various operating stations alluded to.

The spring pressed idler shown in Fig. 2' hol ds'the transfer chain taut, and at the sametime (in so: far as necessary) permits intervals of rest the pins are located at the different stations. During these intervals the mechanism of the operating stations perform their functions, operating simultaneously. The type of the transfer mechanism employed permits the use of any desired number of operating stations, according to the number of operations to be performed, additional stations merely requiring a longer conveyor belt or chain, or a longer travel of the transfer mechanism. The individual stations may be separated from each other by spaces adequate to permit their easy adjustment or repair, and the mechanism of any desired station can be cut out of action when not required. For example, the pin opener at G may be thrown out of action when it is desired that closed pins be delivered by the machine, by simply uncoupling its cam-drive, or the guarding mechanism at F may be stopped in a similar way, and in such cases the pins are merely carried through these stations without action thereby and none of these variations in the number of the stations need change the rate at which the final products are delivered. \Vhile the several stations are preferably all located along the upper straight stretch of the transfer chain, it is obvious that they may be disposed elsewhere along the course of the chain. In the machine illustrated, all the parts are driven from a single drive pulley 14, the shaft 15 of which passes beneath the table and at its opposite end is arranged to drive the two lay shafts 16 and 17 from which the transfer chain and the station mechanisms are individually driven in the manner later described.

It will be apparent that the organization of a linear type of transfer with a plurality of mechanisms disposed at successive stations along the path of the same to operate successively on the articles while the latter are retained in the same transfer, is not alone applicable to machines for the manufacture of safety pins but is generally applicable to machines for various purposes.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the wire stock 21 is drawn from a reel (not shown) by the reciprocating feed block 2:2 of the cutting and pointing mechanism A, through the straightener 23, and then to the shear at 9A which cuts it into blanks of proper length. From the shear the blanks are carried transversely under the files 25, by which they are pointed, and the pointed blanks (marked 26) are then pushed seriatim by the reciprocating fingers 29, along the slideways 27 and 28 into engagement with the coiling and bending mechanism at B. The parts which perform these arious functions, and comprehended within the mechanism generally marked A, are all very well known in this art, and therefore do not require detailed disclosure; any other combination performing the same or similar functions is suitable for use in substitution. These parts are however shown driven by the same drive and layshafts as the rest of the machine.

The bending and coiling mechanism of station 13 and the means whereby it receives the pointed pin blanks are also adopted from the prior art, but with certain modifications as presently described, whereby the coiled blank is properly delivered to the transfer mechanism. These parts are shown in Figs. 3 to (5 and comprise a bender 32 to bend the unpointed end of the pin blank (see Fig. 5) in order that the pin cap may be later fastened to the blank, and a coiler,

the head of which is shown at 33, to form the coil of the pin. The bender head is mounted on a lever 37 that is cam operated by the lay shaft 17 in a manner that will be understood. The coiler head 33 has the customary center spindle 3; and the coiling key fixed in the head, and oscillated by the sector 38: this sector is operated by a cam rod of adjustable length. which supported by its forked end on the lay shaft 17 (Fig. 3) and carries a cam roller l0 engaged in a cam slot 11 in the face of the cam disc 42. The coiler head and its center spindle are both independently slidable lengthwise. The sliding center spindle 3% is pro vidcd with a collar groove at its rear end engaged by an upstanding stub l6, lined in the end of the lever 45, which lever is operated by the shaft 17 by means of the ongagen'ient of a cam surface on the opposite face of the disc 4-2 with a screw 48 in the end of the lever A spring 4-0 holds the bearing -13 against the cam and norn'ially holds the center spindle projected from tincoiler head. An internal spring 50 pi against a collar on the spindle and a;.1a1n-;t the coiler head and tends to hold the latter toward the left in Figs. 6 and 7. that s to say, toward the mechanism A from which the uncoiled but pointed blanks are received. As a straight, pointed pin blank 26 is pushcd by the reciprocating fingers 29 along ihe slideways, its middle part enters between the coiler spindle 3i and the coiling key 1.7 while its unpointed end still lies on the slideway 127 (or an extension thereof) and overhangs the bender head 32: an upi'i .it stop 51 on the latter prevents the blank being pushed beyond the bender. A pres or foot 52 is now moved down on the end of the pin blank (by a cam 53 on shaft 17. act ing on the lever 54: carrying the PX'LSFLH foot), thus clamping the blank to the slidevay 2T somewhat back of the unpointed end (Figs. 3 and 5). \Vith the blank thus clamped, the bender head 32 is raised by its operating cam to bend the end of the blank upwards (Fig. 5i, and is retracted: at the same time or in succession. the coiler head is turned by its actuating sector to cause the ir J lit)

key can). carry the pointed one of the blank around the spindle 34 somany revolutions as are necessary to produce the desired number of turns inthe pin c-oil-nsually one and a half and at the end of the turning metio-n holds the blank momentarily in an overcompressed or -closed position (Fig. In this consti -n of the pin coil, the moving leg of tae pin is carried between the clamp-ed and the coiler head, and the piling of one turnof the coil on another forces the coiler head longitudinally into its bearings and along its center spindle against the resistance of the internal spring 50, the center spindle being held against sliding by its lever as. This retreat of the c-oiler head provides room for the growth of the coil.

The pin blankis in condition to be taken up by the transfer chain C for transfer: to the succeeding stations The chain is of the link type, and each link comprises one or more blocks lying sideby side and hinged, to the adjacent linksat both ends the present instance by the pintles and the links are transversely undercut adj acent the hinges to provide complements 'aws for ras in the coiled in blank aboa. l 8.

its middle in the manner shown in 8 and 9 and in which the is held by f resiliency of its own coil. The ascendi k stretch of the chain runs between the coilerhead 33 and the presser foot 52 as shown in Fig. 5 and normally is located well back of the pin blank as shown in Fig. '2' so as notto interfere with the blank during the coiling operation. In. its intermittent motion the chain stops with a pair of jaws opposite the coiler head during the interval in which the coiler holds the pin in the overclosed position referred to (Fig. 5), and finger 58 'is-then turned by its shaft 59' (under the thrust of a cam 60 on the lay shaft 17), to push the chain out of its straight course atthis point so that the chain jaws will open wider and extend around and across the legs of the coiled blank (Fig. 6), The coiler center spindle Sd'is. then withdrawn from the coil (by its lever as above described), the presser foot 2. is raised, and the coiler head turned backvards slightly, thus completely releasing the pin from the coiler and bending mechanism and permitting the legs of the pin blank to spring apart from their over-closed position and be grasped by the chainjaws; The chain with the pin blank fiianly b by the jaws is then ready to move npwai a other step to carry the pin blank awa rrom the coiler toward the pulley 1.. Subsequently (although all these movements may take place more or less simultaneously) the spring 50 returns the coiler forward and its sector 38 turns it back to its initial posh tion for receiving another pin blank, the center spindle 34 is again pushed out to the chain jaws as the chain passes the pulley 1 on its way to the capping moch Be cause of the s;i="- fl-ic1ty oi the for g con-- struction and the simplicity of mecl for causing the aws to open and close to receive and release the articles, I prefer the hinged-link type of chain,especially for safety pins, but it may be employed for ,ther rticles which are otherwise adapted to be retained by the jaws. Stationary guides 63- at the sides of the chain and underneath the ends of the articles, and at 6 i above the chain against which he pins may slide, maybe employed to assist in keeping the articles in the jaws against accidentaldisplacement and also while the subsequent operatio is on the articles are being performed; for this latter purpose the same guides may be tended through the individual stations orseparate holders 65 (Fig. 2), particularly designed to accommodate the work at the individual stations, may be provided found most convenient.

The transfer mechanism, it will be ob" served, grasps the blank at about its middle; this leaves the ends of the blank free to ceive the cap one end and the guard at the other. In general, thetransfer is intended to engage the blank at any suitableplace thereon where no work is to be performed and obviously in every case. the place or places of engagement will be chosen, so far as possible, with reference to the particular work to be done on the blank, al though as hereinafter pointed out the position of the articles in the transfer may be changed in the course of their passage through the machine. In conjunction with these features the linear movement of the transfer (which permits of as many successive operations as may be desired, as be fore pointed out), provides for the manufacture of pins of any degree of complication in a single macline, without intermediate handling. This may be contrasted with the turret and analogous types of trans fer mechanisms h retofore provided to ca coiled pin him is, in which. the number of operations is limited to the number of mechanisms that can be assembled and operated about. the transfer center, as well as by other considerations.

The mechanism at the station D, Where the caps are applied to the pins, comprises the guide tube 68 through which the caps 69 fall, one at, a time, onto the table 70 in front of the reciprocating pusher 'F'l,

having sufli-cient resiliency or too 11) which pushes the cap forward over the two endsof that pin blank which, for the time being, is held by the transfer chain opposite this station (Fig. 10). he pusher T1 is operated by the opposing actions of a spring 72', tending to pull the slide forward, and the lever 73 and push rod 7%, the latter passing through the yoke 75 carried by the cam operated link 39 Fig. 3), the connection between the yoke 75 and the push rod 7% being through the spring 70, which provides for some lost motion: this arrangement provides for a greater range of travel for the link than for the push rod 7% but at the same time permits one cam on the shaft 17 to operate both for the capping pusher and the coiling head. A jarring mechanism comprises a spring pressed hammer 7G striking the back of the guide tube 68 under the action of the ratchet 77 that is belt driven from the shaft- 17, keeps the caps loose in the tube so that they fall promptly. The caps 69 are sorted before introduction into the guide 68; that is to say, they are arranged so that each one is introduced into the tube with its open end foremost and the longer projection 69 thereof (see Figs. 12 and 13) arranged to pass over the pointed end of the pin blank. The caps may be sorted or arranged either by hand or by any suitable mechanism and I have shown as a part of the machine a mechanism that I prefer for this purpose. This mechanism comprises the substantially parallel rolls 79 and 80 slightly inclined downwardly and diver ing toward the receiving end of the guide 68; these rolls are driven in the same direction bv the belt 81 connecting them to the lay shaft 17 and the interconnecting belt 82 between the rolls. At their upper ends the rolls are so close together that no part of the caps can fall into the crevice between them (Fig. 15), while at their lower ends they are separated sufficiently to permit at least the narrow portion of the caps to fall into the crevice (Fig. 16). Preferably the rolls are knurled or otherwise somewhat roughened for some distance from their upper ends as shown in Figs. 1 and 14, although such roughening does not seem to be altogether necessary. The caps being dropped haphazard and successively onto the upper ends of these rolls. from a hopper 83, the turning rolls agitate the caps as they slide towards the lower end of the rolls so that those caps which fall onto the rolls with their open ends upwardly are caused to, first, turn on their rounded ends so as to present their open ends downwardly, and then all the caps either slide straight down the rolls in this position, or turn only on their longer longitudinal axes until ultimately each reaches av point on the rolls where its narrow edge 69 may enter the widening crevice between the rolls; from thence on each cap slides straight downwardly, falling farther and farther into the crevice (Fig. 1(3) until at the lower end of the crevice the cap falls through the crevice or off the ends of the rolls into the guide (38. From this point on the guide keeps the caps from turning over, relative to each other, either from end to end or side to side and conducts them, open end foremost, to and in front of the pusher 71 as before described. This device. it will be observed, is but one exemplilication of a method of rearranging articles that are of such end and longitudinal eonfornntion as to turn end for end in so far as may be necessary to present all similar ends in one direction, and which are narrower at one edge than at the other, which method consists in agitating the articles on a pair of surfaces providing a crevice that is divergent at one end, and simultaneously causing the articles to travel toward the divergent end of the crevice. At the open end of the guide 68 a spring-held presser foot 84; is provided with a point 85 that is arranged to project into the second lowermost pin cap as the slide '71 is withdrawn; this prevents the whole train of caps sliding down the guide 68 onto the table 70 as the slide or pusher Tl retreats, but instead allows only the lowermost cap to drop onto the table (Fig. 11). As the pusher pushes this single cap toward the pin blank it passes underneath the presser foot 8st, thus raising the point 85 out of the guide, and allows the next lowest cap to fall on to the pusher and bring another cap opposite the point (Fig. 10) where it may be engaged when the pusher retreats again. Thus are the caps fed one by one onto the table and in front of the pusher. As will be seen in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the pin at this station is represented as justified by a raising cam 88 on the guide 63 which raises the coil end of the pin and correspondingly depress the opposite end thereof to a certain fixed distance above the top of the table 70; in this manner the cap receiving end of the blank is properly placed to receive the cap as the latter is advanced by the pusher, and it may be here noted that by such variations in the guides 63. 64 and 65 the work may be similarly justified to the mechanisms of any station as may be desired. A rear stop 89 is engageable by the coiled end of the pin blank to assist the chain in holding the blank firm against the thrust of the pusher 71 in pushing the cap onto the blank.

A cap having been put on one of the blanks, the chain 0 again advances and sub sequently brings the same blank to rest at the succeeding station E where the -ap is clinched or closed to fasten it firmly about the bent end of the pin; in its transfer from the eapper to the cap closing mechanism the ill] cap may be held on the pin'partly by the resiliency of the latter pressing the bent and pointeden-ds of the pin against the opposite interior edge walls of the cap, but preferably this is doneby ineansof a vertical abutment 90, shown particularly in Fig. 18, placed on the guide or slid-sway 63 and against which .the end of the cap may bear. At the cap closing station the pin blank is stopped with the cap overlying a die reccss 9 1' in a vertically movable-plunger 95. This recess is shaped like one face of the finished cap. With the pin thus positioned the cam disc 97 on the lay shaft 17 drives the sliding rod 98 forward so that its inclined forward end raisestheplunger to enclose the pin cap and at the same time thrusts the lever 99 against the coiled end of the pin to hold or thrust theblank well into the cap and its bent end against the closed end of the cap, and hold the latter in the die cavity; the pin may be moved lengthwise in the chain by the action of the lever 99 if necessary. A raiser 100-, adjustably fastened to the plunger 95 by a bolt in an elongated slot, simultaneously raises the chain so far as need be to permit the cap to lie in the die cavity without pushing the pin out of the chain; this local raising of the chain also opens the jaws slightly at this point to permit the pin blank to expand in the cap so that the bent end of the blank will lie tight against one side of the cap while the pointed end of the pin lies tight against the other as shown in Fig. 21. The upper guides 64 may be recessed somewhat adjacent this station in order to permit this local raising of the chain. The cap thus being properly set in the die cavity and the ends of the pin wire properly placed therein as described, the same cam 97 aotuates the lever 101 to thrust downwardly the sliding head 1'02 and therewith the punch 95 into the die cavity and onto the cap to crimp or close the latter in the manner shown in Fi 22. Ultimately the cam disc 97 passes beyond its operating position and a spring 105 then retracts the reciprocating rod 98 and permits a spring 106 to return the plunger while a spring 107 causes the lever 99 to follow the rod 98 back; likewise, another spring 108 acting on the lever 101 raises the sliding head and punch. By its own weight and tension the chain falls back to its normal positionas the plunger 95 retreats.

lVith a cap thus permanently fastened to the pin blank the transfer chain advances farther to carry the blank to the station F where the guard for the coil is put on. It maybe mentioned here that the normal opening of the jaws in the transfer chain C is preferably such as to slightly compress the coiled and closed pin, that is to say, is such as to-hold its point shghtly out of contact with the edgewall of the cap although the point remains well within thecrevice of the cap; I prefe-r this relation between the jaws and the pins (although it is not a1together necessary on account of the arrangement of the guides 63 and 64) since this relation enables the transfer to retain a firm grasp on the capped pin; I

The flat blank for the guard is shown in 29, the narrow flat stock 116 from which the blank is punched being shown in Fig. 30. Fig. 31 shows this blank formedand ready for application to the pin coil. 7 Figs. 24, 25, 27 and 28 illustrate the mechanism which not only applies the guard to the pins, but also strikes out and forms the guard from a flat metal strip-stock 116, although obviously a suitable guarder may be substituted which receives the guard in the form of the flat blanks of Fig. 29 or in the form of the form-ed blanks of Figure 31. In the mechanism as shown the narrow metal stock 116 is passed by suitable feeding means 117 through a double acting press in which, in succession, the drawing punch 118 strikes out the flat blank of Figure 29 by forcing it through the drawing die 119, and the punch 120 forms the same into the shape shown in Figure 81 by forcing the initially fiat blank through the second and forming die 121. The press, as so far described, is of a well known type and is continuously operating at such a rate as to supply the guards as needed, being driven by the chain which in turn is driven from a sprocket on the lay shaft 17. The feeding rolls .117 are turned intermittently (between strokes of the punches 118, 120) by a cam on the press shaft which acts through a lever and link to intermittently advance a pawl engaging a ratchet fixed to one of the rolls as shown in Fig. 2%. Below the forming die 121 a carrier 126 receives the formed cap for transfer to the pin; this carrier is illustrated as a disc that is turned intermittently, step by step, by the pawl and ratchet mechanism 127 and 1.28 driven by the connecting rod 129 from a crank on the punch press shaft, and is provided with pockets to carry the formed caps from the forming die to the pin (Fig. 27). provided by a sliding radial pin 130. The conveyor disc being stopped with one of these pockets below the dies 119 and 121, the press draws and forms a guard blank like that shown in Fig. 31 and thrusts it into the disc pocket, therewith pushing the push rod 130 "inwardly. One sidewall of the pocket is provided with a hing-ed drag 181, spring pressed as shown against the guard blank so as to frictionally hold the latter in the disc as the punch 120 is withdrawn and as the disc is turned on its axis. The punch 120 being withdrawn the pawl and ratchet mechanism 127, 1 28 now step the disc around to bring this cap oppositethe The bottom of each pocket is of the disc (Figs. 27 and 28).

coil on a pin which the transfer chain C by this time has brought opposite the edge lVith the disc and pin at rest in these positions an oscillating cam 133 within the conveyor disc is turned to thrust out the push pin and therewith thrust the guard blank over the pin coil (Figs. 27 and 28); again the pin may be backed up by a-stop 13% operating against the opposite end of the pin to assist the transfer chain G in resisting the thrust. The interior cam 133 is oscillated by a lever 135 pinned to a shaft 136 to which the cam is fixed and about which the transfer disc 126 turns loosely (except as restrained by the spring pressed friction members 132); the lever 135 is oscillated by the connecting rod 137 also attached to the crank'at the end of the press shaft as shown in Figs. 25 and 26. The push pins 130, it will be observed from Fig. 28, partially enclose the guards as they hold the latter on the pin coils and hence act as dies in conjunction with the punches 138, which, while the push pins are protruded, reciprocate toward each other to turn the edges of the guard into the pin coil to the position shown in Fig. 32'; these punches are actuated simultaneously at the proper time by the individual levers 139 under the thrust of the cam disc 140 on the lay shaft 17. Having thrust out its guard, each push pin 130 may continue'protruded as the disc is stepped around until it again approaches the forming dies when it strikes a stationary cam face let] formed on the frame of the machine and which pushes the pin 130 inwardly sutficiently to pass below the forming die. Obviously, the number of pockets and push pins in the conveyor disc is immaterial, four being shown and being found satisfactory.

The pin illustrated in Figure 33 is now complete, with its cap and guard, and is closed, that is to say, its point is within the cap. If desired the pin may now be discharged from the machine, the further movement of the chain carryingihe closed pin around the pulley 2 to the pulley 3 where the perfect and closed pins are dropped from the transfer chain by reason of the fact the radius of this pulley is so small that the chain jaws open far enough to release a closed pin, which (unlike the wire blank passing around the pulley 1) can not expand to any great degree on account of the point being confined in the cap. The perfect pins that are completely closed are therefore dropped from the machine at this pulley 3, but any pins which lack a cap or on which the cap is so imperfectly placed that the pin legs may expand somewhat farther, are retained in the chain by their additional expansion and pass on to the pulley 4. At this point, stationary cam faces 1 1% at both sides of the chain press the pin out of the jaws as the pin is carried over them. Thus all the pins passing the pulley 3, that is to say, the malformed or incomplete or open pins, are removed from the transfer at the pulley t. The pins are held in the chain while passing around the pulley 2 (the latter being shown here as of the same radius as the pulley 3) by the guard or guide 1 15 along which they may only slide as the chain jaws release their hold tem- -porarily.

Should it be desired that the machine deliver the pins opened, that is to say, with the pointed ends outside of the caps, the mechanism at the station G may be employed, for example between the guarding station F and the pulley 2. The opening mechanism comprises a hinged linger 118 (Figs. 31 to 40) oscillated by a link 151 fastened to the hanger of the pawl 9 and provided with a cammed end surface 1-19 in advance of a hook both of which are arranged to engage the pointed leg of the pin at a point thereon between the chain C and the pin cap. Rests 152 and support the cap and coil of the pin respectively against the downward thrust of the cam 119, these rests being sloped to the approaching pins so that the latter ride up the rests and when the chain stops, in its intermittent motion, hold the pin elevated slightly. lvhile the chain is stationary and the pin caps and coil are on the rests, the finger 118 moving to the left in the figures, first bends the pointed leg of the pin downwardly and then the hook 150 engages with the leg and pushes the latter bodily to the left until the point of the pin passes out of the cap. The downward thrust on this leg of the pin then forces the point below the cap (Fig. 38) so that on the return of the linger 14-8 to the right (Figs. 39 and 40) the pointed leg of the pin, following it as the pin expands, passes along the outside of the cap. At no time. it will be observed, is the pin or either leg of it lifted from between the jaws of the transfer chain. Therefore as the finger 14S continues to the right, the pointed leg of the pin is resented in its jaw as the finger 118 leaves it (Fig. %O). The rest suitably shaped to provide a back stop 153 to hold the pin head against the thrust of the hook 150 and with a slotted or depressed portion 154 to permit the pin point to pass along below the cap.

The opened pins are not dropped off the chain as it passes around the pulley 3 since, being open, it is capable of expanding to the full extent of the opening of the jaws, but all the pins are now removed at the pulley l where the stationary cams 14% force them out of the chain as before described. The operation of this opener may be brought 1,591 ,o'e'e about or discontinued by adding or taking away operating link 15].

The driving mechanism for the chain is particularly designed to render the distance the chain moves each step readily adjustable. As before pointed out, the transfer chain 0 is driven by the sprocket pulley and the pawl and ratchet mechanism 9 and 10; the pulley 2 is keyed to the shaft 158 as is also the ratchet 10, while the pawl 9 is carried by the hanger 159 which is loose on this shaft and is oscillated by the reciprocating yoke 160. The yoke 160 in its turn is reciprocated by its roller 161 running in the circular cam groove 162 out in the face of a plate that is fastened eccentrically to and is adjustable along the diameter of a disc 16% turning with the lay shaft 16. For the purposes of this diametrically adjustable attachment, the disc 163 is provided with a face rib 168 resting in a diametrical slot 169 in the face of the disc 16 1 while the fastening means comprise the threaded bolts 1 passing through elongated slots in the c 16% and entering the plate 163; an elonted slot 176 permits movement of the plate transverse to the shaft 16. Changing the" position of plate 163 lengthwise of the roove 169, adjusts the position of the chain as it is carried around the table with a en speed of rotation of the shaft 16 (and hence shaft 15) as willbe understood. A bolt 1. 2 set in the hub 173 of the disc 164 fastens the disc 164; tothe shaft 16 in any angular position and hence permits the lengthwise adjustment of the chain with respect to the operating stations and the adjustment of the periods of dwell and movement of the chain with respect to the periods of operation and rest of the mechanisms of the operating stations. The collar 1% holds the yoke 160 against the face of the cam slate 163. 1

it will be understood that as illustrated the mechanisms at the different operating stations work simultaneously on successive pins, and successively operate on the same pin so that each article leaves the last station a finished product and all are alike. These features are subject to obvious modiiications however. Preferably also, with the chain transfer shown in the drawings, the chain is so laid that the two similar jaws at one side of the article are placed to the rear of the article while the single intermediate complementary jaw is placed in front,as shown in 8. It will be observed, also, that l have shown'various means for justition without departing from my invention setl'orth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. The combination of a transfer mechanism comprising a chain of hinged-links, complementary jaws on different links to grasp the article to be transported, means for moving the chain, means to cause the chain to depart from a straight course at one point to actuate the jaws to receive the articles, and a plurality of mechanisms distributedalong the chain and arranged to work on the articles conveyed thereto by the transfer.

2. The combination of a transfer mechanism comprising an endless chain of hinged- -links, a plurality of sets of complementary jaws to hold the articles to be transported, the con'inlementary jaws of each set being on different links and the sets of jaws being distributed along the chain,-means for moving the chain, means to flex the chain to actuate the jaws to receive and release the articles, and a plurality of mechanisms distributed along the chain and arranged to work on the articles conveyed thereto by the transfer.

3. The combination of a transfer mechanism comprising an endless chain of hinged blocks, a plurality of sets of complementary jaws to grasp the articles to be transported, the complementary jaws of each set being on different blocks and the sets of jaws being distributed along the chain, means for moving the chain, means to cause the chain to depart from a straight course at one point to actuate the jaws, a stationary slideway for the articles held in the transfer, and a plurality of mechanisms distributed along the chain and arranged to work on the articles conveyed thereto by the transn Ier.

41. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a coiler, mechanisms for applying a point-receiving cap to the pin blank, mechanism for applying a guard to the coil,

and a single transfer element for the coiled pin blank'for taking the coiled blank from the coiler and conveying the blank to both of said mechanisms, said transfer engageing the blank elsewhere than at its coil and the unpointed end of the pin, whereby the cap and guard may both be applied to the blank while the latter remains in the transfer.

5. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a coiler, mechanism for applying a cap to the coiled pin blank, mechanism for adding a guard on the coil, and a transfer for the pin blank receiving the coiled blank from the coiler and grasping the blank about its middle, said transfer thence conveying the coiled blank through both said mechanisms in succession.

(i. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a single transfer for the pin blanks arranged to grasp the blanks at points thereon Where no parts are to be attached, and a plurality of mechanisms for applying a plurality of devices to each blank while the blanks are contained in the said single transfer. the single transfer conveying each blank to said mechanisms successively for the successive addition of devices thereto without the removal of the blank from the transfer.

7. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a coiler, mechanism for working on the pin, and a transfer provided with a plurality of pairs of jaws movable beside the coiler and arranged to receive successive coiled blanks therefrom in successive pairs of jaws and transfer the blanks to said mechanism, complementary jaws being undercut to retain the coiled blanks therein by the resiliency of the latter.

8. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a linear transfer, a plurality of mechanisms for performing work on the pins contained by the transfer, said mechanisms being arranged in succession along the linear transfer, and means at one of said mechanisms to justify the pins contained in the transfer, as they arrive at said mechanism, to enable the said mechanism to perform its work on the pins.

9. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a linear transfer for the pins, a plurality of mechanisms for performing work on the pins, said mechanisms being arranged in succession along said transfer, and means for changing the positions of the pins in the transfer after the first of said mechanisms has performed its Work.

10. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer for the pin blanks, and a plurality of mechanisms for adding devices to the pin blanks, said mechanisms being arranged in succession along the course of the transfer to work on successive pins carried thereby.

11. In a safety-pin machine the combination of a capping mechanism, a guarding mechanism, a belt-like transfer for conveying the ,pin blanks through said mechanisms in succession.

12. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a capping mechanism, a guarding mechanism, a pin-opening mechanism, and a belt-like transfer for conveying the pin blanks through said mechanisms in succession.

13. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer, mechanism for working 011 the pins, said mechanism being arranged beside said transfer, and a guide for the pins beside the transfer.

14. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer having pairs of complementary notches adapted to receive the opposite legs of a coiled safety-pin blank and retain the same therein by the resiliency of the pin, and mechanism to work on the pins conveyed thereto by the transfer.

15. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer having pairs of complementary notches facing lengthwise of the belt and adapted to retain by its resiliency a safety-pin lying therein transversely of the belt, and mechanism to work on the pins conveyed thereto by the transfer.

16. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer having pairs of complementary notches facing lengthwise of the belt and adapted to retain by its resiliency a safety-pin lying therein transversely of the belt, a coiler beside the belt, means for moving the belt intermittently in one direction, means for causing the belt to receive the coiled blanks from the coiler during its intervals of rest, and mechanism for applying caps to the pins as the latter are brought to the mecl anism by the belt and during the intervals of belt rest and while the pins lie in the belt.

17. In a safety-pin machine, the combi nation of a belt-like transfer for the pin blanks, mechanism for applying a guard to the pin coil, mechanism for adding a cap to the pin, and mechanism for fastening said cap to the pin, said mechanisms being arranged in succession along; said transfer for successive operation on the pins conveyed thereby.

18. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer for the pins, means for supporting the transfer, a capping mechanisms, and mechanism for performing other work on the pins, said mechanisms being arranged in succession along a single straight course of the transfer.

19. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a table, a belt-like transfer supported in a vertical plane and encircling the table top, a capping mechanism, and mechanism for performing other work on the pins, said mechanisms being arranged in succession beside the transfer belt and on top of the table.

20. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer arranged to have the pin blanks lie thereon transversely of itself with both ends of the blanks free, a guarding mechanism beside the transfer to apply guards to the exposed pin coils, and

a capping mechanism to add caps to the opposite exposed ends of the blanks.

21. a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer arranged to have the pins lie thereon transversely of itself,

mechanism arranged beside the belt to work on the pins conveyed thereto by the belt and as the pins lie thereon, and means engaging one end of the pins successively to displace the pins to justify the same for operation thereon by said mechanism.

22. In a safety-pin machine, the combination-of a belt-like transfer arranged to have the pins lie thereon transversely of itself, mechanism arranged beside the belt to work on the pins conveyed thereto by the belt and as the pins lie thereon, and means to engage the-ends the pins successively as they are worked on by said mechanism to prevent their being displaced lengthwise on the belt by the mechanism.

23 Ina safety-pin machine, the combina tion of a belt-like transfer arranged to have the pins lie thereon transversely of itself, mechanism arranged beside the belt to work on the pins conveyed thereto by :the belt and I .as the pins lie thereon,;and means to push the pins lengthwise on the belt, successively, to position them with respect to said mechanism.

24:. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer arranged to have the pins lie thereon transversely of itself, mechanism arranged beside the belt to work on the pins conveyed thereto by the belt and as the pins lie thereon, and means for raising the belt transfer locally adjacent said mechanism to justify the pins successively with respect to said mechanism.

25. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer arranged to have the pins lie thereon transversely of itself, and means to jnstify the pins by displacing them from their normal path.

26. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer provided with projecting jaws tograsp the pins, means to support the transfer, and means for causing the transfer to momentarily depart from its straight course between two adjacent supporting means to open the jaws of the trans- 1 fer. I

27. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer provided with projecting jaws to grasp the pins, means to support the transfer, and means intermittently operating to push the transfer out of its straight course between adjacent supports to open the jaws and returning it to its straight course to close the jaws again.

28. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a beltrlike transfer provided with projecting jaws to grasp the closed capped pins and supporting means about which the belt transfer runs, the opening between the jaws being of such size as to slightly compress the pin normally and hold its point slightly outof contact with the edge wall of the cap, one of said supporting means being of such small curvature that the jaws open sufliciently far to release the pins the machine being otherwise so zwranged adjacent the. last mentioned supporting means that the pins may leave the transfer thereat.

29. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer provided with jaws in which the pins are resiliently held, and means beside the chain to force :the pins from the chain against their resiliency.

30. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer provided with jaws in which the pins are resiliently held, and a stationary cam beside the chain, ongageable by the pins as the latter are moved along by the transfer, to displace the pins from the jaws against their resiliency.

.31. Ina safety-pin machine, the combina tion of a belt-like transfer provided with projecting undercut jaws, a coiler beside the transfer, means for intermittently pushing the transfer, locally toward the coiled pin blank on the coiler to open the jaws and pass the same across the legs of the blank, whereby the pin may expand into the nnder-. cuts in the jaws when released, .and mechanism beside the transfer for working on the pin blanks conveyed thereto by the transer. Y

3.2. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer provided with projecting jaws arranged to hold coiled pin blanks in closed position, mechanism beside the transfer to apply a cap to the blank, said cap as applied enclosing the pin point, means to cause the transfer to travel a curved path of a small radius of curvature whereby the perfectly capped and closed pins are discharged, and a subsequent means to remove the remaining pins from the jaws.

33. A safety-pin machine comprising the combination of a belt-like transfer provided with projecting jaws for holding capped pins, means to cause the transfer to travel a curved path of a small radius of curvature whereby the perfectly capped and closed pins are discharged, and a subsequent means to force the remaining pins from the jaws.

34. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a plurality of working mechanisms, and a transfer for conveying the articles between said mechanisms, said transfer comprising a chain of hingedly' connected links provided with a plurality of pairs of article receiving jaws, each pair consisting of complementary projections on adjacent links extending at right angles to the hinges whereby the jaws are actuated wherever the chain changes its line of movement, and said projections being undercut to provide notches in which the coiled article is retained by its own resiliency.

In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a plurality of working mechanisms. and a transfer for conveying the articles between said mechanisms. said transfer comprising a chain of blocks hinged directly to the adjacent blocks at both ends by through bolts. said blocks being transversely undercut adjacent the said hinges to provide com plemcntary jaws on different blocks for grasping the. article.

36. In a safety-pin machine. the combination of means for pointing the blanks. a coiler. a transfer running adjacent the coiler to take the blank therefrom. said transfer comprising a hingeddink type of endless chain having adjacent links undercut ariacent the hinges to provide pairs of eomplemcntary jaws to retain the coiled blanks therein by their own resiliency, the said iaws being arranged to grasp the coiled blank about its middle and hold the coiled blank in closed position, a bender to bend the cap receiving end of the blank. a capper arranged beside the transfer chain to apply caps to the blanks. said caps also enclosing the pin point. a guarding mechanism to add a guard to the pin coil. also arranged beside the chain, said guarder and capper being arranged successively along the transfer. means to move the chain intermittently. means to push the chain out of its course adjacent the coiler to extend its jaws over the coiled pin on the coiler. to receive the pin as the latter is released at the coiler. and means for actuating the last mentioned means and the capper and guarder simultaneously during the intervals when the chain trans fer is at rest.

37. In a safetv-pin machine. the combination of a transfer adapted to hold a coiled pin blankfm ans for moving the transfer. and capping and guarding mechanism ar ranged beside the path of the said transfer to add a cap and a coil guard to the blank the said transfer engaging the blank at its middle whereby both the cap and the guard may be applied to a blank conveyed by the single transfer.

39. In a safet vpin machine, the combination of a transfer mechanism adapted to hold coiled pin blanks. means for moving the transfer intermittently. capping and guarding mechanisms arranged in succession beside the said transfer. said transfer engaging the pin blanks at their middle to leave both the coil and the cap end free whereby both the guard and the cap may be applied to a blank conveyed by the single transfer. and means for operating the cappine' and guarding mechanisms simultane- Ously and during intervals of rest of the transfer to apply the caps and the coil guards to the blanks.

39. In a safety-pin machine, the combina' tion of a coiler a hinged-link type of endless transfer chain receiving the closed coiled blank from the coiler. a capping mechanism beside the chain to lix point receiving caps over the closed pin blanlzs. a cap sorter comprising a pair of divergent inclined roll crs. a guarder. a power shaft. and means driving all said device from said shalt.

all. In mechanism for arranging a plurality of articles relative to themselves. a pair of inclined rolls laid side by side and providing a crevice divergent; toward the lower end of the ro ls. and means for rotat-- ing the rolls in the same direction.

t]. In the arranging of a plurality of articles relative to themselves. the combination with a pair of inclined rolls laid Fill! by side and providing a crevice divergent. toward the lower end of the rolls. of means for rotating the rolls and articles laid or. the rolls of such end and longitudinal coir formation as to turn end for end where necessary to present similar ends downwardly and narrower at one edge than at the other.

1-2. In the arranging of safety-pin caps. the combination with a pair of inclined rolls laid side by side and providing a crevice divergent toward the lower end of the rolls, of means for rotating the rolls and safety pin caps laid on the rolls.

4 3. In mechanism for arranging safetyp'in caps, the combination of a pair of rolls laid side by side to provide a crevice divergent at one end. the rolls sloping toward the said end and the crevice at its upper en being too narrow to admit the narrower edge of caps and at its lower edge being wide enough to admit such edge. and means for rotating the rolls.

41 1-. The combination in a safety-pin machine, of capping and coiling mechanisms, a transfer grasping the closed capped pin. and a pin opener comprising a rest for the cap and means pressing on the pointed leg of the pin in a direction transverse to the cap while it simultaneously pushesthe pointed leg toward the other leg and out of the cap and permits the pointed leg to again pass awav from the opposite leg.

45. A safety-pin opening mechanism comprising a rest for the cap. a rest for the coil, and means pressing on the pointed leg in a direction transverse to the cap while it simultaneously moves the pointed leg toward the opposite leg and out of the cap and permits the pointed leg to again pass away from the opposite leg.

46. A safety-pin opening device compris-- ing means for pushing the two legs of the pin toward each other. means for pressing on the cap and cap-carrying leg in one direction transverse to the plane of the pin, and means pressing on the pointed leg in ill) , tion of a transfer for successively arranged closed capped pins and engaging the pins between their ends, a rest for the pm COll,

, a rest for the cap,the coils and caps being positioned on the rests as the pins are carried along by the transfer, and a member actuated while the pin is on such rests to push one leg of the pin toward the other to free the pin point from the cap and press on the pointed leg of the pin against the resistance of the rests to permit the pin to 6X pand with the point outside the cap.

48. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a belt-like transfer for the pins, a mechanism beside the transfer for Working on the pins, and means for intermittently moving the transfer, said means comprising a pawl and ratchet and an adjustable eccentric for operating the same, the eccentric consisting of an eccentric plate diametrieally adjustable along a member fixed to a power shaft.

49. In a safety-pin machine, the combination of a coiler, an endless chain of blocks, said blocks being undercut adjacent the chain points to provide complementary jaws on adjacent blocks to receive the coiled blanks, means for moving the chain, and mechanism for adding point receiving caps to the coiled pin blanks conveyed to the mechanism by the chain.

50. The method of arranging irregularly but similarly shaped articles so that they all he in the same relative position, which consists in agitating the articles on a pair of surfaces providing a crevice which is divergent toward one end and which is wide enough at a point in advance of said end to permit a narrow portion of each of said articles to pass through it, but is too narrow at said point to permit a wider portion of the article to pass through, and causing the articles to travel toward the divergent end of the crevice to said point.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

OSCAR E. RICHARDSON. 

